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CHP rescues ducklings on Highway 101 in Santa Rosa, twice

GUY KOVNER

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | May 4, 2016

A mother duck and her ducklings walking in the fast lane of southbound Highway 101 in Santa Rosa caused a traffic hazard Wednesday night, the CHP said. It was the second night in a row that errant water fowl caught the agency’s attention.

Vehicles were reported swerving to avoid the mother duck and her flock at about 8 p.m., the agency’s website said. A second caller told the CHP the ducks almost caused a collision.

The birds were on the southbound side of the freeway just north of the Hopper Avenue ramp. Sgt. Erik Egide said officers were unable to locate the birds.

And about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, a motorcycle officer, accompanied by a representative of The Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County, climbed down into bushes along the freeway near the Bicentennial Drive overcrossing and rescued seven ducklings, he said.

Egide said he found two more ducklings north of the Steele Lane offramp and secured them in an empty flare box.

“Those little things are fast,” he said. By trapping them against a fence, Egide said he was able to secure the birds.

You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @guykovner.